Dec. 14.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 3707

CODE.

The Continental Code is the one used by the U.S. Navy, and is preferred for all wireless communication.

CHARGES BEING MADE IN SENDING WAVE LENGTHS OF NAVAL STATIONS AND SHIPS.

All naval shore stations, except certain long-distance stations to be mentioned later, will have their apparatus adjusted for sending on a wave length of 1,000 meters as rapidly as possible. All sets will be “sharply tuned,” so that it will be necessary for a vessel receiving to have her receiver very carefully adjusted for receiving a 1,000-meter wave. Otherwise the signals of a naval station may not be heard. A difference of 3 per cent. in wave length between the signals sent and received may be expected to cut down the strength of signals by one-half, and a receiver set for receiving on a 900-meter wave or on a 1,100-meter wave (i.e., a difference of 10 per cent.), may not hear the shore station at all, depending on the distance. Vessels of the Navy are having their apparatus adjusted for calling on a 600-meter wave length, and may use other wave lengths for communicating with each other. When communicating with a naval vessel she may be expected to use a 600-meter wave having the same characteristics as the long wave described above. Shore stations and ships of the Navy may be expected to receive all calls from merchant ships using those wave lengths ordinarily in use at the present time. It is only the receiving by merchant ships which will be affected by the changes now being made, as described above.

On receiving word to “go ahead” the vessel should send a message as follows :—
(a) “HR” or “MSG.”
(b) Number of message.
(c) Ship’s call.
(d) Operator’s sign.
(e) Number of words, excluding address and signature.
(f) Originating station and number, for relayed messages only.
(g) Original date, for relayed messages only.
(h) Route of message.
(i) Address.
(j) Message.
(k) Signature.

Notations in regard to wireless charges on board ship, land wire charges, or both, may be made after (e). In case it is desired that the message should be forwarded by a certain land line the fact should be indicated in item (h) by the initials “WU” or “PT,” or other designation necessary. In an original message sent from a ship to a wireless station items (f) and (g) may be omitted.

In case of long messages the sending ship should get an acknowledgment after every twenty words, or thereabouts, before proceeding.

Communication may be interrupted at any time and the right of way given to a Government station or vessel, if necessary, or to any vessel in distress, or to send broadcast any important information.

All stations may be expected to be familiar with the methods of communication adopted by the International Wireless Conference of Berlin, of 1906, with special regard to the international signal of distress “SOS,” and the signal “PRB,” expressing the desire to communicate by means of the international signal code by wireless. Ships are requested not to use the letters “OS” preceding a position report, as the letters “OS” made rapidly and continuously might be mistaken for the signal of distress “SOS.”

Shore stations in designating the order in which messages will be received from the vessels within range will be guided exclusively by the necessity of permitting each station concerned to exchange the greatest possible number of wireless telegrams. At all times business may be expected to be handled in the following order :—
(a) Government business, viz., telegrams from any Government Department to its agent aboard ship.
(b) Business concerning the vessel with which communication has been established, viz., telegrams from owner to master.
(c) Urgent private dispatches, limited.
(d) Press despatches.
(e) Other despatches.

REPORTS TO NAVY DEPARTMENT.

In order that the efficiency and reliability of the service may be steadily increased, it is requested that merchant vessels unable to communicate with any station open for public business report the matter in full to the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C. The statements should be specific, giving date and hour, local conditions as regards atmospheric disturbances and wireless communications, distance from the shore station, and the statement that the wireless apparatus of the ship was in good condition, as evidenced by other communications effected at or about the same time, and that the receiver was adjusted approximately for the sending wave length of the shore station. All reports will be investigated, and the cause of the trouble will be ascertained if possible. A reply may be expected after the matter has been investigated.

NOTES ON CERTAIN STATIONS.

Cape Elizabeth, Me.—Post-office address, Portland, Me. Telegraphic address, Cape Elizabeth, Me. Station uses new standard sending wave length or “tune” (1,000 meters). Manned by one operator only, who listens for calls from five minutes before the hour to five minutes after from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., both inclusive. He transmits messages at any time. Handles commercial messages.

Portsmouth, N. H. (Navy Yard).—Uses standard time. New high-frequency 2-K. W. set recently installed. Handles commercial messages.

Boston, Mass. (Navy Yard).—New high-frequency 5-K. W. set being installed.

Cape Cod, Mass.—Post-office address, North Truro, Mass. Telegraphic address, Navy Wireless, Highland Light, Mass.

Newport, R. I. (Torpedo Station).—New high-frequency 5-K. W. set being installed. Handles commercial messages.

Nantucket Shoals Lightship.—Post-office address, Care of Babbitt and Wood, New Bedford, Mass. Telegraphic address, Via Torpedo Station, Newport, R. I. Uses short-wave length. Communicates with ships and Newport only. Ships passing are requested to communicate by wireless or by international signals in order that they may be reported via Newport. Ships whose wireless apparatus permits should report to Newport direct.

Fire Island, N. Y.—Post-office address, Bayshore, Long Island, N. Y. Telegraphic address, Wireless, Fire Island, N. Y. New high-frequency set to be installed. Handles commercial messages.

Philadelphia, Pa. (Navy Yard).—New high-frequency 2-K. W. set being installed.

Cape Henlopen, Del.—Post-office and telegraphic address, Lewes, Del. Handles commercial messages.

Washington, D. C. (Navy Yard).—Handles commercial messages. High-power station being erected.

Norfolk, Va. (Navy Yard).—New high-frequency 5-K. W. set being installed.

Diamond Shoals Lightship.—Post-office address, Care of Clyde Steamship Company, Pier 36, North River, New York, N. Y. Telegraphic address, Via Wireless Station, Beaufort, N. C. Handles commercial messages. Communicates only with Beaufort.

Beaufort, N. C.—Post-office address, Beaufort, N. C. Telegraphic address, Beaufort, N. C. (Western Union only). Handles commercial messages.

Charleston, S. C. (Navy Yard).—Handles commercial messages.

Frying Pan Shoals Lightship.—Installation in progress. Will communicate with Charleston.

St. Augustine, Fla.—Post-office and telegraphic address, St. Augustine, Fla. Handles commercial messages.

Jupiter Inlet, Fla.—Post-office address, Jupiter Inlet, Neptune, Fla. Telegraphic address, Jupiter, Fla. (Western Union only). Handles commercial messages.

Key West, Fla. (Naval Station).—Handles commercial messages. Two high-frequency sets, 25 and 2 K. W., to be installed.

Pensacola, Fla. (Navy Yard).—Handles commercial messages.

San Juan, P. R.—Handles commercial messages.

Guantanamo, Cuba (Naval Station).—New high-frequency 5-K. W. set to be installed. Handles commercial messages.

Colon, C. Z.—Post-office address, Colon, C. Z. Telegraphic address, Wireless, Colon. Twenty-five-K. W. high-frequency set. Handles commercial messages.

St. Paul, Pribilof Islands, Alaska.—Established 3rd July, 1911. Standard sending tune. Two operators. Hours of operation will be published later. Communicates with Nome and Unalaska by day, and in addition with Kodiak and Cordova at night. Handles commercial messages.

Unalaska, Alaska.—Established 10th August, 1911. On Amaknak Island. New high-frequency 5-K. W. set. Standard sending tune. Communicates with St. Paul by day and with Nome, Kodiak, and Cordova by night.

Kodiak, Alaska.—Established 28th May, 1911, on Woody Island. Standard sending tune. Communicates with Cordova by day and with St. Paul and Unalaska by night.

St. Paul, Unalaska, and Kodiak transmit and receive messages to and from the U. S. Army Signal Corps station at Nome and the naval wireless station at Cordova, either